49″-52 pound St. Croix Flathead

Fishing the St. Croix last night I got the familiar little tap on my cut shad and lifted up on the pole. Right away I could tell it was a big fish. I couldn’t even get it to come off the bottom, it was just swimming around down there! Finally, it started to give and imagine my surprise when through the clear water I see this huge flathead! My first on the St. Croix… wow, I can see why the state record came from there. Are the flatheads there generally like this but fewer in number?

Nice lookin fish too. I wish I would have got a shot of it’s back.

Rollin…you got a small one…they are all bigger on the Croix.

Ok…I was pulling your drag.

There are pleanty of big flats out there if you’re in the right place at the right time.

Forget the back picture…that mouth says it all!

Way to go on your FIRST flathead?? If this is true, you are ruined!!

I think it is his first St. Croix Flat.

That is a pig!! Man I need to go fishing now!

Yeah, my first St. Croix flathead. The first time I went out there earlier this year for catfish I was unimpressed. No log jams, clear water.. I mean why would I fish my usual 5 feet of water when I can clearly see there’s no fish down there! Maybe some different tactics.. or a lot of patience? I think I remember someone posting they fished the Croix 24 nights w/o catching even one flathead. Then, a 55 pounder..

The last two nights.. my PB sturgeon 52″ (and one that was 51″) and now my PB flathead. I kinda like this fall fishing on the Croix!

Great Fish

DANG!!!! NICE FISH!!

The head kind of looks like a Wels cat! Nice fish. So you were alone and got those picts? I’m with Brian, you don’t need a back picture, those are great shots.

Keep fishing and taking pictures. You’re on a roll. Might be an even bigger monster in your future! Ride the wave man!

Nice Fish Mate!

Yeah, I just had the camera on the front of the boat and used the delay. Should have got a pic of the look on my face when I first saw this thing coming up from the depths, seriously man.. It still kinda makes me laugh looking at the mouth shot.

I really like the head-on shots people have taken. This guy looks like he could swallow your head! I think Dan Thiem has a picture like that and Wiggy has one with a sturgeon I believe. Very cool and a nice change from the usual poses.

I agree. There’s another thread on the Mississippi catfish forum that’s kind of related in case you guys haven’t seen it.

Mississippi forum thread

50 pounds by yourself?! And pictures to boot!!

You didn’t say that!

Most would say…I was by myself and didn’t get a picture.

THAT makes it a true trophy!!

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I think I remember someone posting they fished the Croix 24 nights w/o catching even one flathead. Then, a 55 pounder..

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Hey Rollin – I’m that unlucky soul with all the skunks but that 55# fish made it all worth it. I chase flatheads on the St Croix and I’m the one who gets skunked quite regular. It was nice to see your fish. What keeps you coming back is a fish like that. You got a beautiful fish out of a tough stretch of the St Croix to fish for flatheads. I’ve been surprised by the number of late season flatheads coming to the sturgeon fisherman. That is the 4th flathead over 25# caught since 1 September that I have heard about. It has me reevaluating my tactics and techniques for fishing St Croix flatheads. The stretch of water south of Stillwater is called Lake St Croix and it does not read like any traditional flathead water. No logjams, no defining current or unique structure – but it has been giving up some nice flatheads this fall. I normally chase flatheads upstream but I may move some of next year’s flathead fishing trips down into the lake.

Hey Steve, the place I was fishing (and my first time there) was muddy bottom about 25 foot deep. It was close to shore after the drop off. Probably about 10 feet after it went from sandy/rocky to muddy. I didn’t fish there after I caught the fish, it was quite the ordeal.. but I’ll let you know if I catch any more there and the exact spot if I do. There’s something going on if the first flathead I caught is 50+ pounds.. must be some real giants in there. You’re right, it was lake St. Croix.

And here I thought all you fished for was those silly Muskies Nice fish, and glad to hear your switching to the dark side

Nice Hog!!

Very nice.

Way cool fish

Look at the mouth on that thing!

1st timer lands another huge one

Maybe it’s just that these veterans have things all wrong..

Haha just kidding.. There’s some good info here. Actually I’ve been catfishing for 5 years, just not in this neck of the woods. Yeah, and this is my biggest.. and 3 over 40 this year, thanks to the good info here.

Where else you been fishing?

Mankato, on the Minnesota river. These sturgeon and the St. Croix though it’s like a whole different ball game. Even the catfish there.. Then tonight I caught another PB 55 3/4″ sturgeon. If I have to pull one more anchor up while trying to keep the fish from pulling me in…

Thanks for the tips Brian!

Sounds like you’re getting the Sturgeon Dance down pretty good!

I keep flip flopping…what’s more fun…hooking into a chunky flat or hooking into a 47 plus inch sturgeon.

They both are so unique…and both will kick your butt!

Congrats on your wave of PB’s!

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I keep flip flopping…what’s more fun…hooking into a chunky flat or hooking into a 47 plus inch sturgeon.

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No contest… Flathead.

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No contest… Flathead.

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I’m with ya there.

Ok then, which is cooler looking? Has to be the sturgeon.
Although I think flatheads are the best looking fish in the river, and lake for that matter.

No, I have never put one in a dress either for those of you waiting to pounce on that one.

I think it’s a toss-up. They’re both fun as hell to catch!